More from Rich Dixon:

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My conversation with Carbondale athletes wasn’t really about sports.

“How do you know if you won a game?”

They pointed at the scoreboard.

“Who knows which team won?”

They hesitated. Finally, someone replied, “Everyone. Read the score.”

“Of course. Everyone knows. Now, a tougher one.

“How do you know if you’re a winner?”

Curiously, no one looked at the scoreboard.

“Who knows if you’re a winner?”

It was quiet. I waited. Finally, a young lady said softly, “I do.”

And a guy. “God knows.”

I smiled. “That one’s harder, huh? The scoreboard tells who won, but only you, in here,” I put my hand on my chest, “can know if you’re a winner.”

(I adapted this notion from Friday Night Lights, which followed a coach and his team and their unique rallying cry. “Clear eyes. Full hearts. Can’t lose.” )

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“Ever look in a mirror after you ‘got away’ with something? Broke a rule, lied and didn’t get caught, took a shortcut in practice and coach didn’t notice. You didn’t give your best, but it worked out okay and everyone’s patting you on the back. You smile, but when you look in the mirror it doesn’t feel so good…because you’re hiding something.”

Heads nodded slowly. “We all know what it’s like to think we got away with less than our best, only to endure the crummy feeling of being afraid to face the person in the mirror.”

“Now turn it around. Think about what it’s like when you know you did the right thing, when you know you did your best. Maybe you’re disappointed with the results; maybe nobody else noticed. Is it different to look in the mirror?”

Heads nodded.

“That’s ‘clear eyes.’ When you can gaze in the mirror and not be afraid, when you know you did it right, when you know God knows….”

Winners live with clear eyes.

To be continued…